Is Cardiac glycosides legal?
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
- US: FDA-approved, prescription only
- UK: Licensed, prescription only (MHRA)
- AU: TGA-registered, prescription only
- CA: Health Canada approved, prescription only
The US comes first because most people ask about it. Each country has its own page. It names the agency, the law or rule, and what the legal category means in real life.
All four countries, side by side
| What we list | United States · FDA | United Kingdom · MHRA | Australia · TGA | Canada · Health Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Approved | Approved | Approved | Approved |
| Legal category | FDA-approved, prescription only | Licensed, prescription only (MHRA) | TGA-registered, prescription only | Health Canada approved, prescription only |
| Note | Digoxin is approved for heart failure and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. No approval exists for clearing worn-out cells. Ouabain is not sold as a medicine in the United States. | Digoxin only, for heart conditions. | Digoxin only, for heart conditions. | Digoxin only, for heart conditions. |
| Agency | Check FDA directly | Check MHRA directly | Check TGA directly | Check Health Canada directly |
US FDA status: Digoxin is an FDA-approved prescription drug for heart failure and atrial fibrillation, a common irregular heartbeat. openFDA, the FDA's public drug database, lists current prescription products plus several discontinued ones. No drug in this family is approved anywhere to clear worn-out cells or for ageing. Ouabain is not sold as a medicine in the United States.. Reviewed Sep 2026.
Country by country
Is Cardiac glycosides legal in the United States?
Yes. Cardiac glycosides is an approved medicine in the United States. Its legal category is "FDA-approved, prescription only". The approval covers the use on its label. It is given out on prescription, not sold over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" are not covered by that approval, and that label does not make them legal to use in people. On the evidence, 1 completed human trial is cited on its profile.
The full United States answerIs Cardiac glycosides legal in the United Kingdom?
Yes. Cardiac glycosides is an approved medicine in the United Kingdom. Its legal category is "Licensed, prescription only (MHRA)". The approval covers the use on its label. It is given out on prescription, not sold over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" are not covered by that approval, and that label does not make them legal to use in people. On the evidence, 1 completed human trial is cited on its profile.
The full United Kingdom answerIs Cardiac glycosides legal in Australia?
Yes. Cardiac glycosides is an approved medicine in Australia. Its legal category is "TGA-registered, prescription only". The approval covers the use on its label. It is given out on prescription, not sold over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" are not covered by that approval, and that label does not make them legal to use in people. On the evidence, 1 completed human trial is cited on its profile.
The full Australia answerIs Cardiac glycosides legal in Canada?
Yes. Cardiac glycosides is an approved medicine in Canada. Its legal category is "Health Canada approved, prescription only". The approval covers the use on its label. It is given out on prescription, not sold over the counter. Products labeled "research use only" are not covered by that approval, and that label does not make them legal to use in people. On the evidence, 1 completed human trial is cited on its profile.
The full Canada answerCardiac glycosides in sport and the military
Whether Cardiac glycosides is banned in sport is set by the World Anti-Doping Code and by military rules, not by its legal status. Before you compete or get tested, look up Cardiac glycosides by name on the Prohibited List, or look up a named product in Global DRO. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, category S0 bans, at all times, any drug-like substance that meets two tests. No other section of the List covers it. And no government health regulator anywhere has a current approval for it as a treatment in people. Many substances that are approved somewhere are banned by name in another section. So approval does not mean a substance is allowed in sport.
- WADA Prohibited List
- Global DRO (check a named product)
- USADA (US athletes)
- Operation Supplement Safety (US service members)
The rules you compete or serve under decide this, not this page.
Related compounds
General information, current as of Sep 2026. Not legal advice. Legal status changes. For your own situation, check with the agency or a lawyer. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research and is not medical advice. Where a dose appears it is a record of what a trial or clinic ran, or what people describe doing, with its source attached. Nothing here is a recommendation for personal use. Sellers named on the price pages are ranked by certificate tier, then price, and any affiliate income is disclosed there. Naming a seller is not a recommendation to buy or use anything.